The Art of Swing: You Are a Slugger?

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Wang Ma, Jingjuan Huang, Qiang Hu, Junjie Qiu, Leping Li

STATDS, SUSTech, Shenzhen, China

{12012424,12112847,12111214,12111831,12112627}@mail.sustech.edu.cn

Abstract

The objective of this project is to establish precise metrics that accurately assess

a player’s batting ability, while systematically eliminating extraneous inﬂuences

such as luck, defense, and ﬁeld conditions. This report aims to summarize and

critically analyze the key aspects of the newly-proposed batting metrics by Stat-

cast, focusing on the proposed metrics and their implications for determining a

batter classiﬁcation rule.

1 Introduction

Baseball, often referred to as America’s pastime, holds a unique position in the world of sports due to

its rich history and the intricate statistical analysis it enables. This sport’s complexity oﬀers a fertile

ground for applying advanced statistical and machine learning techniques, making it an ideal subject

for data science projects. The objective of this report is to delve into the intricacies of evaluating

batting performance using modern metrics proposed by Major League Baseball’s Statcast system.

Context and Motivation. Evaluating a batter’s performance in baseball is challenging due to a myr-

iad of inﬂuencing factors such as luck, the defensive prowess of ﬁelders, and the characteristics of

diﬀerent ballparks. Traditional metrics like batting average and home runs provide a snapshot but

often fail to capture the complete picture of a player’s abilities. The need for more precise metrics is

paramount for both performance analysis and ﬁnancial decisions, such as player salaries. This pro-

ject aims to establish precise metrics that accurately assess a player’s batting ability, systematically

eliminating extraneous inﬂuences such as luck, defense, and ﬁeld conditions.

Advances in Baseball Analytics. Statcast, a state-of-the-art tracking technology, has revolutionized

baseball analytics by providing detailed measurements of player movements and actions on the ﬁeld.

On May 13, Statcast introduced six key metrics to better quantify a batter’s abilities:

•

Bat Speed: The velocity of the bat as it moves through the hitting zone.

•

Fast-swing Rate: The frequency at which a batter can achieve high bat speed.

•

Squared-up Rate: The consistency with which a batter makes solid contact with the ball,

leading to optimal hitting outcomes.

•

Blast: A measure of the quality of contact, typically resulting in extra-base hits.

•

Swing Length: The distance the bat travels during a swing, aﬀecting the timing and control

of the hit.

•

Swords: Instances where a batter is completely fooled by a pitch, often leading to weak

contact or misses.

Categorization of Batters. Our project also highlights the categorization of batters based on their

skills and performance. Batters are classiﬁed into various groups such as Sluggers, Elite Batters,

Contact Batters, and Weak Batters. Each category exhibits distinct characteristics:

37th Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS 2023).

Figure 1: Four Categories of Batters

•

Sluggers: Known for their power and ability to hit home runs, but with high strikeout rates

and a low batting average (e.g., Giancarlo Stanton, Kyle Schwarber).

•

Elite Batters: Combine power with high contact rates, making them versatile threats at

the plate. Their most notable features are exaggerated expected weighted on-base average

(xwOBA) and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (e.g., Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani).

•

Contact Batters: Focus on consistently making contact with the ball, often resulting in

high batting averages. They are often referred to as “The Hit Makers” (e.g., Ichiro Suzuki).

•

Weak Batters: Struggle to make eﬀective contact and often lack power, limiting their over-

all impact. These players are at the margin of MLB and may be demoted to Minor League

Baseball (MiLB) or play defensive roles (e.g., fringe MLB players).

Dataset: Statcast In recent years, the analysis of sports data has gained signiﬁcant traction within

the machine learning community. One particularly rich source of data is the Statcast system[1],

developed by Major League Baseball (MLB). Statcast is a state-of-the-art tracking technology that

collects an extensive array of metrics for every play in an MLB game. This system utilizes high-res-

olution cameras and radar equipment to measure the precise movements and physical characteristics

of players and the ball. The resulting dataset provides granular insights into the sport, capturing de-

tails such as pitch velocity, player positioning, and batted ball trajectories.

The Statcast dataset, accessible via the Baseball Savant platform[2], oﬀers a comprehensive col-

lection of baseball statistics from the 2015 MLB season onward. This dataset encompasses various

dimensions of the game, including pitching, batting, and ﬁelding. For instance, it records pitch type,

spin rate, exit velocity of batted balls, and the sprint speed of players. These detailed metrics enable

nuanced analysis and modeling, facilitating research in areas such as player performance evaluation,

game strategy optimization, and injury prevention. By leveraging the Statcast dataset, researchers

can apply advanced machine learning techniques to uncover patterns and insights that were previ-

ously unattainable with traditional baseball statistics.

Objectives of the Study. As mentioned, result-based metrics can be greatly inﬂuenced by uncon-

trollable factors such as luck and ﬁeld conditions. Therefore, this study aims to measure a batter’s

true batting ability purely based on their “swinging,” which can be seen as the true batting ability of

a player. The objectives of this study include:

• Measuring True Batting Ability: This involves eliminating the inﬂuence of external factors

such as luck, defensive skill of the opponents, and the peculiarities of diﬀerent ﬁelds.

• Determining Player Salary: By using reﬁned metrics, teams can make more informed ﬁ-

nancial decisions, ensuring that contracts reﬂect a player’s true value.

Contributions. Our contributions can be summarized as follows:

1. Analysis of Statcast Metrics: We analyze the six newly proposed metrics by Statcast using this

year’s real player data, uncovering their relationships with traditional metrics.

2. Development of Classiﬁcation Rules: We create a workable classiﬁcation rule to categorize dif-

ferent types of batters based on the new metrics.

Through this project, we aim to provide a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of player

performance, leveraging advanced metrics and data analysis techniques to enhance the understand-

ing of batting abilities in baseball.

2 Bat Speed and Fast Swing Rate

2.1 Bat Speed

Bat speed, a critical metric in baseball performance analysis, refers to the average speed of a player’s

bat during the top 90% of their swings. This measurement provides a focused look at a player’s most

eﬀective and powerful swings, which are crucial for assessing their hitting capabilities. Higher bat

speeds are generally associated with better performance, as they enable players to hit the ball harder

and farther.

Visualization techniques, such as histograms and kernel density plots, reveal insightful patterns in

bat speed distribution. For instance, an analysis of player data shows that average bat speeds typi-

cally range from 62 to 80 mph, with a signiﬁcant concentration around 71 mph. This indicates that

most players’ swings fall within this range, suggesting a common target for optimal performance.

The distribution of average bat speeds approximates a normal distribution, highlighting that extreme

values are less common.

Figure 2: Deﬁnition of Average Bat Speed

Figure 3: Average Bat Speed Distribution

2.2 Fast Swing Rate

Statcast deﬁnes a “fast swing” as one that achieves a swing speed of at least 75 mph. The “fast-swing

rate” is calculated as the percentage of a player’s total swings that reach this speed. During the ﬁrst

month of 2024, it was observed that 23% of all swings qualiﬁed as fast swings. The 75 mph threshold

is signiﬁcant because it marks the point at which per-swing production aligns with the league aver-

age. As swing speed increases beyond this threshold, players typically see enhanced performance

metrics. This distinction is crucial as the diﬀerence between a swing that reaches 75 mph and one

that does not is considerable.

From the table we calculated, fast swings are associated with higher batting averages, slugging per-

centages, weighted on-base averages (wOBA), hard-hit rates, and better overall run production per

100 swings. This highlights the value of increasing swing speed to achieve better oﬀensive outcomes.

Table 1: Fast Swing vs Not a Fast Swing

Metric Fast Swing Not a Fast Swing

BA 0.311 0.219

SLG 0.612 0.374

wOBA 0.392 0.267

Metric Fast Swing Not a Fast Swing

hard-hit rate 0.535 0.360

RV/100 0.722 −2.868

2.3 Correlation Between Average Bat Speed and Fast Swing Rate

To explore the relationship between average bat speed and fast swing rate, a linear regression model

was utilized. The analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between the two variables, with an

R-squared value of 0.879. This high R-squared value indicates that a signiﬁcant portion of the vari-

ability in fast swing rate can be explained by average bat speed, underscoring the importance of bat

speed in determining swing eﬃciency.

For instance, Giancarlo Stanton, known for his powerful hitting, exhibits an average bat speed of

80.60 mph and an exceptionally high fast swing rate of 0.969. This combination highlights his ability

to consistently generate high swing speeds, contributing to his formidable oﬀensive output. Stanton’s

high bat speed allows him to make powerful contact with the ball, resulting in higher slugging per-

centages and overall better performance at the plate.

In contrast, Luis Arraez, who has an average bat speed of 62.50 mph and a fast swing rate of 0,

demonstrates a diﬀerent approach to hitting. Despite his lower power metrics, Arraez’s superior hit-

ting technique is reﬂected in his higher expected wOBA compared to Stanton. This suggests that

while bat speed is a critical factor, hitting skill and technique also play vital roles in a player’s overall

performance.

Consequently, there is a need for metrics like the Squared-Up Rate to provide a more comprehen-

sive assessment of a player’s hitting proﬁciency beyond just power and bat speed. Such metrics can

capture the eﬀectiveness of a player’s ability to make solid contact with the ball, accounting for

factors such as timing, pitch selection, and precision. This holistic approach to evaluating hitting

performance can help identify players who excel through technique rather than sheer power, oﬀering

a more balanced view of their oﬀensive capabilities.

Figure 4: Correlation between Avg Bat Speed and Fast Swing Rate

3 Squared-Up Rate

Firstly, for each ball, we can determine if it is “Squared-Up” by comparing the actual exit velocity

to the max exit velocity. The max exit velocity is calculated based on pitch velocity and bat speed.

A ball is considered “Squared-Up” if the ratio of actual exit velocity to max exit velocity exceeds

80%. After determining the “Squared-Up” status for each ball, the Squared-Up Rate is calculated by

dividing the number of “Squared-Up” instances by the total number of swings.

Figure 5: Squared-Up

Generally, the swing speed conversion rate for “Squared-Up” hits is higher than for non-"Squared-

Up" hits. From the batter’s perspective, achieving a “Squared-Up” hit requires striking the ball with

the sweet spot of the bat, located 4-9 inches from the tip. Therefore, in baseball, players with high

contact attributes are better at controlling the bat and hitting the ball with the sweet spot. With con-

sistent pitch speed, the exit velocity of a “Squared-Up” ball can be higher even with a lower swing

speed.

Figure 6: Squared-Up Rate

The speed of the pitch signiﬁcantly inﬂuences the maximum exit velocity of the hit, a phenomenon

commonly referred to as “borrowing power.” This is why many batters prefer to wait for a four-seam

fastball to hit home runs.

Figure 7: Fast Hit Rate by Pitch Type.

Currently, the average Squared-Up Rate for each swing is around 25%. The hitting outcomes for

Squared-Up hits signiﬁcantly outperform those for non-Squared-Up hits in terms of batting average,

slugging percentage, and run production. Despite having less power, Luis Arraez leads the league

with a Squared-Up Rate of 43.6%, while Giancarlo Stanton’s rate is only 21.3%. Consequently, Ar-

raez’s expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA) is higher than Stanton’s, illustrating the value

of consistent contact and technique over sheer power.

Table 2: Squared-Up vs Not Squared-Up

Metric Squared-Up Not Squared-Up

BA 0.3708 0.1261

SLG 0.6602 0.1430

wOBA 0.4382 0.1197

hard-hit rate 0.5976 0.0133

RV/100 11.1873 −6.6557

Table 3: Giancarlo Stanton vs Luis Arraez

Metric Giancarlo Stanton Luis Arraez

Bat Speed

80.6 62.5

Fast Swing Rate 97.2 0.0

xBA 0.250 0.326

xSLG 0.512 0.409

xwOBA 0.342 0.340

Squared-Up Rate

0.213 0.436

The distribution charts for all Major League Baseball batters with more than 150 swings show inter-

esting trends. In the left chart, the horizontal axis represents the Fast Swing Rate, while in the right

chart, the horizontal axis represents the Squared-Up Rate. The vertical axis in both charts represents

the expected batting average.

Figure 8: xBA vs. Fast Swing Rate

Figure 9: xSLG vs. Fast Swing Rate

Figure 10: xWOBA vs. Fast Swing Rate

Figure 11: xBA vs. Squared-Up Rate

Figure 12: xSLG vs. Squared-Up Rate

Figure 13: xWOBA vs. Squared-Up Rate

The data indicate that the Squared-Up Rate has a more signiﬁcant impact on the expected batting

average compared to the Fast Swing Rate. Conversely, in terms of slugging percentage, the Fast

Swing Rate has a greater inﬂuence than the Squared-Up Rate. When considering the ﬁnal expected

weighted on-base average (xwOBA), the impact of both rates is comparable, with the Fast Swing

Rate having a slight advantage.

It is important to note that swing speed is not always optimal when maximized. Comparing the swing

speed distribution of Giancarlo Stanton and Shohei Ohtani, we observe that Stanton’s swing speed

distribution is very narrow, whereas Ohtani’s is more dispersed. When facing inside pitches, batters

need to swing faster to pull the ball, while for outside pitches, they need to delay their swing to

push the ball. Stanton’s swing speed is almost identical for both inside and outside pitches, resulting

in a signiﬁcantly lower batting average for outside pitches compared to inside pitches. In contrast,

Ohtani adjusts his swing speed based on the pitch location, swinging slower for outside pitches. This

adjustment allows him to better follow the ball, leading to a higher batting average on outside pitches.

Figure 14: Bat Speed distribu-

tion

Figure 15: Pull & Push

Figure 16: Stanton BS

Figure 17: Stanton xBA

Figure 18: Shohei BS

Figure 19: Shohei xBA

By plotting Squared-Up Rate on the horizontal axis and Fast Swing Rate on the vertical axis, we ob-

serve an inverse relationship between the two; as swing speed increases, it becomes more challenging

to control the point of contact on the bat. Examining the heat maps of expected batting average,

expected slugging percentage, and expected wOBA, we conclude that the combination of Squared-

Up Rate and Fast Swing Rate can eﬀectively deﬁne the four types of batters mentioned earlier.

Figure 20: Fast swing

Figure 21: xBA

Figure 22: xSLG

Figure 23: xwOBA

As of June 16th, which players fall into these quadrants on the distribution chart? The top-right

corner, with three players far ahead of the pack, features the Yankees’ Juan Soto, Brewers’ catcher

William Contreras, and Shohei Ohtani. The bottom-right quadrant, representing skillful hitters, in-

cludes Luis Arraez and Mookie Betts. The top-left quadrant, known for power hitters with less con-

trol, includes notable sluggers such as Giancarlo Stanton, the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber, and Aaron

Judge.

Figure 24: Four kinds of batters.

4 Blast and Swing Length

In the realm of baseball analytics, two key metrics have emerged as critical indicators of a player’s

hitting performance: “blast” and “swing length.” A “blast” is deﬁned as a hit where the combined

value of 100 times the squared-up percentage and the bat speed equals or exceeds 164 mph. “Swing

length,” on the other hand, measures the distance the bat’s sweet spot travels during a hit. These

metrics provide insight into a player’s power and technique, respectively, and have signiﬁcant impli-

cations for their overall eﬀectiveness at the plate.

4.1 Blast

According to recent data, the distribution of blast rates among batters is centered around 10%, with

only a select few players exceeding this mark. Notably, Juan Soto, William Contreras, and Shohei

Ohtani are the only batters to achieve a blast rate over 20%. This highlights their exceptional ability

to generate high-speed, well-squared hits consistently. Heatmap visualizations comparing bat speed

and exit velocity reveal that blasts consistently result in higher exit velocities than non-blasts, despite

similar bat speeds. This indicates that the quality of contact, rather than just bat speed, plays a crucial

role in generating blasts.

Figure 25: Distribution of Blast Rates of Batters Figure 26: Distribution between Bat Speed and

Exit Speed

The statistical diﬀerences between blasts and non-blasts are stark. Blasts result in a weighted On-

Base Average (wOBA) of 0.705 compared to 0.177 for non-blasts, a batting average (BA) of 0.547

versus 0.174, and a slugging percentage (SLG) of 1.120 against 0.221. Furthermore, the expected

run value for blasts is a staggering 31.720, while non-blasts carry a negative value of −5.820. These

ﬁgures underscore the immense impact blasts have on a player’s oﬀensive contribution and the over-

all game dynamics.

4.2 Swing Length

Swing length also shows signiﬁcant positive correlations with various performance metrics. Distri-

butions of swing length against wOBA, BA, SLG, and expected run value all demonstrate that longer

swing lengths tend to correlate with better performance outcomes. Additionally, there is a notable

positive correlation between swing length and bat speed, indicating that players with longer swings

often generate more bat speed.

Figure 27: Distribution of Swing Length and

wOBA

Figure 28: Distribution of Swing Length and BA

Figure 29: Distribution of Swing Length and

SLG

Figure 30: Distribution of Swing Length and Ex-

pected Run Value

Figure 31: Distribution between Swing Length and Bat Speed

A closer examination of two players with contrasting swing lengths—Giancarlo Stanton and Luis

Arraez—provides further insights. Stanton, with a swing length of 8.4 inches and a bat speed of 80.6

mph, has an expected batting average (xBA) of 0.250, a SLG of 0.512, and a hard hit percentage of

53.4%. In contrast, Arraez, with a shorter swing length of 5.9 inches and a bat speed of 62.5 mph,

boasts an xBA of 0.326, a SLG of 0.409, and a hard hit percentage of 21.4%. Additionally, Stanton

has a higher strikeout rate (K%) of 30.8% compared to Arraez’s 5.7%. This comparison illustrates

how swing length and bat speed can inﬂuence diﬀerent aspects of a player’s hitting proﬁle, from

power to contact quality.

5 Sword: It Stopped Like a Sword

5.1 Introduction of Sword

The MLB oﬃcial describes sword as when a pitcher fools a hitter so badly that he forces a non-

competitive swing, one where a batter either regrets his choice or can’t stop himself from taking a

hack that looks so ugly it ends up going viral on social media [3]. Please pay attention that a sword

is made by the hitter but induced by the way a pitcher pitches.

A “sword” refers to a swing that resembles the action shown in Figure32. Our goal is to gain insights

into the factors that contribute to a sword. This analysis can provide pitchers with statistical evidence

to better deceive hitters and achieve better performance.

Figure 32: Visual Description of Sword by MLB.

5.2 Pitch Type

Figure 33: Sword Ratio by Pitch Type. The

higher the better pitch is easy to fool the hitter.

Table4 Shows what those abbreviation stands

for.

Figure 34: Knuckle Curve. The curve shows how

a knuckle pitch moves with respect to time.

From Figure33 we observe that a Knuckleball (Pitch Type = KN) is the most possible kind of pitch

that can induce a hitter to react with sword. Figure34 shows how a Knuckleball moves over time,

plotted on a graph with the x-axis representing time (in seconds) and the y-axis representing move-

ment (in feet).

The blue curve represents the vertical movement of the pitch. It starts slightly above zero and de-

creases steadily, reaching a minimum of about −0.5 feet at around 0.6 seconds, before leveling oﬀ.

The red curve represents the horizontal movement of the pitch. It starts at about 0.1 feet, decreases to

zero at around 0.3 seconds, continues to drop to a minimum of about −0.2 feet at around 0.6 seconds,

and then rises back up to around 0.1 feet by the end of the time interval. These movement patterns are

characteristic of a well-thrown knuckle curve, making it an eﬀective pitch due to its late and sharp

downward break along with a slight horizontal shift.

Figure 35: Kernel Distribution Plot of Pitch Attributions.

5.3 Summary

We collected MLB data from April 3, 2024, to May 31, 2024, totaling 93,505 pitching instances.

We analyzed the distribution of various attributes by dividing the data into two groups: those pitches

that induced a “sword” (henceforth referred to as “Sword” pitches) and those that did not (referred

to as “No Sword” pitches). Here’s an analysis of each subplot:

Pitch Velocity: “Sword” pitches tend to have higher velocities than “No Sword” pitches. The dis-

tribution for “Sword” peaks around 125-135 mph, while “No Sword” has a broader distribution

with a peak slightly lower.

Perceived Velocity: “Sword” pitches show a higher perceived velocity distribution compared to

“No Sword”. Both categories have peaks around similar perceived velocities, but “Sword” has a

noticeable secondary peak indicating variability.

Spin Rate: “No Sword” pitches generally have a higher spin rate, peaking around 2500-3000

RPM. “Sword” pitches have a broader distribution with a slightly lower peak.

Vertical Release Point (ft): Both categories have similar vertical release points, with peaks

around 6 feet. The distributions for “Sword” and “No Sword” are almost identical, indicating no

signiﬁcant diﬀerence in vertical release height.

Horizontal Release Point (ft)："No Sword" pitches have two distinct peaks, one around −2.5

feet and another near 2.5 feet. “Sword” pitches show a more centered distribution with a peak

around 0 feet, indicating less variability in horizontal release points.

Plate X: No diﬀerence.

Plate Z: “No Sword” pitches have a broader distribution with peaks around 0 and 2.5 feet. “S-

word” pitches are more concentrated around 0 and 2.5 feet, indicating tighter control over the

vertical position at the plate.

In conclusion, “Sword” pitches are generally faster with slightly higher perceived velocities but

have lower spin rates compared to “No Sword” pitches. Both categories have similar vertical release

points, but “Sword” pitches exhibit more consistency in horizontal release points. “Sword” pitches

are more precisely located vertically at the plate compared to “No Sword” pitches.

Figure 36: Perceived Final Position. This posi-

tion is the perceived position of the last obser-

vation by the observer.

Figure 37: Release Position. This position is

perceived when the ball is released from the

pitcher’s hands.

6 Conclusion

6.1 Categorization of Batters

After conducting a detailed analysis of the newly introduced six batting metrics by Statcast, we return

to the initial question: how to classify batters. Reﬂecting on our ﬁndings during the investigation

of the squared-up rate, we observed that the scatter plot of squared-up rate versus fast swing rate

eﬀectively characterizes diﬀerent types of batters.

Figure 38: Our Classiﬁcation based on Squared-up rate Vs Fast Swing rate

6.2 Key Findings

In this project, we have undertaken a rigorous analysis of contemporary baseball metrics to better

understand and evaluate a player’s batting ability. By focusing on metrics introduced by Statcast,

such as bat speed, fast swing rate, and squared-up rate, we have demonstrated how these advanced

measurements can provide a clearer picture of a batter’s true performance, beyond traditional statis-

tics that often fail to account for external factors like luck and defensive skills.

•

Bat Speed and Fast Swing Rate:

‣

Bat Speed: Our analysis conﬁrmed that higher bat speeds are generally associ-

ated with improved oﬀensive outcomes, including higher batting averages and

slugging percentages. The distribution of bat speeds across players suggested a

normal distribution, with most players’ average bat speeds clustering around 71

mph.

‣

Fast Swing Rate: We identiﬁed a signiﬁcant correlation between bat speed and

fast swing rate, with a linear regression model revealing that nearly 88% of the

variability in fast swing rate can be explained by average bat speed. This under-

scores the critical role of bat speed in achieving higher swing eﬃciency and better

oﬀensive performance.

•

Squared-Up Rate: The squared-up rate, deﬁned by the ratio of actual exit velocity to max-

imum exit velocity, emerged as a critical metric for evaluating a player’s ability to make

solid contact with the ball. Players with higher squared-up rates, like Luis Arraez, demon-

strated superior hitting outcomes despite lower power metrics, highlighting the importance

of contact quality and technique.

•

Categorization of Batters:

We categorized batters into four distinct groups: Sluggers, Elite Batters, Contact Batters,

and Weak Batters. Each category exhibited unique characteristics, with Sluggers known for

power but high strikeout rates, and Contact Batters excelling in consistency and technique.

•

Impact of Metrics on Player Evaluation:

Our study showed that advanced metrics like fast swing rate and squared-up rate provide a

more nuanced and accurate assessment of a player’s true batting ability. These metrics help

to eliminate the noise introduced by external factors, thus oﬀering a more reliable basis for

performance evaluation and ﬁnancial decision-making, such as player salaries.

6.3 Future Directions

Our project lays the groundwork for several future research directions:

• Integration with Machine Learning: Further research could involve the integration of these

metrics with machine learning models to predict player performance and career trajectories

more accurately.

• In-depth Analysis of Defensive Metrics: Complementing our focus on batting metrics with

an in-depth analysis of defensive performance could provide a holistic view of player value.

• Application to Minor Leagues: Extending these metrics to evaluate minor league players

could help in identifying talents and predicting their success at the major league level.

6.4 Final Thoughts

In conclusion, this project has highlighted the importance of using advanced, precise metrics to

evaluate a player’s true batting ability. By moving beyond traditional statistics and incorporating

sophisticated measurements from Statcast, we can achieve a more accurate and comprehensive un-

derstanding of what makes a successful batter. This approach not only enhances the analytical capa-

bilities within baseball but also contributes to the broader ﬁeld of sports analytics, oﬀering valuable

insights that can be applied to other sports and domains.

7 Appendix

Table 4: Reference of Pitch Type and Corresponding Abbreviation.

Abbrev Pitch Type

CH Changeup

Abbrev Pitch Type

FF Four-Seam Fastball

SL Slider

CU Curveball

KN Knuckleball

SV Slurve

FC Cutter

KC Knucle-curve

FS SPlitter

EP Eephus

SC Screwball

ST Sweeper

FO Forkball

SI Sinker

Reference

[1] M. L. Baseball, “Statcast.” [Online]. Available: https://www.mlb.com/statcast

[2] M. L. Baseball, “MLB Savant.” [Online]. Available: https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/

[3] “Swords | Glossary | MLB.com.” [Online]. Available: https://www.mlb.com/glossary/statcast/sword